Memorandum pad



Oct. 13, 1964 Filed Sept. 20, 1961 F. F. MARQUES MEMORANDUM PAD 2 SheetsSheet l INVENTOR.

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Franc/1500 f. Marques ATTORNEYS Oct. 13, 1964 F. F. MARQUES 3,1

MEMORANDUM PAD Filed sept. 20, 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 4a 4/ 49 47 FlE ll:l

INVENTOR.

flak/5m f Mary 0/5 United States Patent 3,152,406 MEMORANDUM PAD Francisco Felix Marques, 66 6th St., San Francisco, (Ialif.

Filed Sept. 20, 1961, Ser. No. 139,556 3 Claims. (CI. 35-66) This invention relates to improvements in memorandum pads of the type on which memoranda or notes may be made by the pressure of a stylus or the like passing over a writing surface which may be readily cleared for placing the same in readiness to receive another written memorandum, whereby the pad may be termed a perpetual one.

I appreciate that various types of memorandum pads, similar in principle to this, have been constructed. Generally speaking they consist of a waxed or paraflin member above which there is a tissue sheet. Overlying the tissue sheet and the waxed or paraffin member there is a generally flexible transparent plastic member which the stylus engages. Pressure is transmitted from the stylus through the upper plastic member and the tissue sheet to the paraffin member, causing the parafiin member and the tissue to adhere at those areas immediately below the passage of the stylus. The areas of adhesion are visible and display the message to an observer.

When the waxed member and the tissue member are separated the pad is cleared and the message is erased. Various methods of separating the two have been utilized in the past. For example it is possible for the user merely to seize the tissue and transparent sheets and lift them upwardly free and clear from the waxed or parafiin member. Various means for permanently mounting the plastic and tissue sheets with a yielding and downwardly movable mounting for the waxed member have been utilized.

It is an object of this invention however to provide a means for erasing the message or clearing the pad by the operation of a simple mechanical lever which can be operated by either hand so that the memorandum pad can be cleared while the user is answering the telephone, for example.

It is a further object of this invention to provide means for erasing the message or clearing the pad in such a manner that the entire message is erased.

It is a further object of this invention to provide means for erasing the message or clearing the pad by moving the tissue and transparent sheets longitudinally along the surface of the waxed member.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a pad which may be cleared or whose message may be entirely erased by a single operation in such a manner that there is no possibility of a portion of the message remaining on the pad.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will appear from the following specification taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 represents a perspective view of the pad incorporating my invention,

FIGURE 2 is a side elevational view of the device illustrated in FIGURE 1,

FIGURE 3 is a cross-sectional detail, taken along the line 33 of FIGURE 1,

FIGURE 4 is a side elevational view showing the pad illustrated at FIGURES 1 and 2 in cleared position,

FIGURE 5 is a top view of the pad illustrated in FIGURES l and 2,

FIGURE 6 is a perspective view of a modification of the pad illustrated in FIGURES 1 through 5, inclusive,

FIGURE 7 is a side view of the device illustrated in FIGURE 1 in cleared position,

FIGURE 8 is a cross-sectional detail taken along the line 8-8 of FIGURE 6,

FIGURE 9 is a perspective view of a second modification illustrating my invention, and

FIGURE 10 is a side elevational View of the pad illustrated in FIGURE 9 showing the same in cleared position.

This application is a continuation-in-part of my copending patent application, Serial No. 836,275, filed August 26, 1959, for a Memorandum Pad, and now abandoned.

As indicated in the drawings (FIGURES 1 through 5, inclusive), I provide a base member 10 which is preferably of rather heavy non-yielding material which forms a back or support for the entire apparatus. Immediately overlying the base 10, I provide a sheet 11 which is pro vided with a waxed or parafiin coating which is preferably black, or, which is of a contrasting color to an immediately overlying pliable tissue sheet 12. Overlying both the sheets 11 and 12 I provide a transparent glossy member 13 which may be of celluloid or other similar plastic material and which is adapted to be engaged by a stylus 14 The action of the stylus 14 against the upper or exposed surface of the member 13 causes the tissue sheet 12 to engage the waxed or paraflin coating on the lower sheet 11 with the result that the two engage at all points along which pressure is applied by the stylus 14. These devices are so well known that I believe it unnecessary to go further into details concerning them.

It will be noted that the members 11, 12 and 13 are secured to the base 10 by staples or any other suitable means which permits a hinged action between the members 11, 12 and 13 on the one hand and the base 10 on the other. Between the members 11 and 12 and along their upper ends, I provide 'a hinged clearing bar 17 which is connected to base 10 by the same fastening means 16 by which the sheets 11, 12 and 13 are secured to the base 10. The clearing bar 17 lies between the members 11 and 12 immediately adjacent their upper edge substantially as shown and at each end I provide handles 18. When the handle 18 is depressed by an operator, the clearing bar 17 is pivoted about the hinged point 16 with the result that the member 11 is separated from the member 16 at all points at which it has previously been caused to engage by the action of the stylus 14. Thus the memorandum pad is cleared. Movement of the bar 17 is limited by handles 18 which engage the base 10 as shown in FIGURE 4.

The member 17 which swings upwardly about the hinged point 16 not only tends to move the member 12 upwardly and away from the member 11 but also tends to move it longitudinally with respect thereto. I have found that this compound action serves to separate the two members quickly and with a minimum of effort and thus to permit clearing of the pad quickly and effectively.

Operation of the entire device may briefly be described as follows:

The device is assembled as illustrated in the drawings (FIGURES 1 through 5, inclusive). The user actuates the stylus 14 to cause the members 11 and 12 to engage and adhere one to the other so that a message shows through the upper member 13. This message will remain only so long as the members 11 and 12 remain in engagement and are not separated. The two are disengaged by an operator actuating the handle 18 and causing the clearing bar 17 to pivot about the point 16 thus imparting two components of movement to the member 12; it is moved upwardly away from the base 10 and the member 11 and longitudinally with respect thereto thus separating the two and clearing the message.

In the modification illustrated in FIGURES 6, 7 and 8, I provide a base member 26 which is likewise of heavy non-yielding material and which forms a back or support for the remainder of the device. Immediately overlying a portion of the base 20 I provide a sheet member 21 which is provided with a waxed or parafiin coating similar to the sheet 11 in the embodiment illustrated in FIGURES 1 through 5. A pliable tissue sheet 22 and a transparent glossy member 23 are adapted to immediately overlie the member 21. The transparent glossy member 23 is adapted to be engaged by a stylus. The action of the stylus 14 against the upper glossy sheet 23 causes the tissue 22 to engage the waxed or paraffin coating on the lower member 21, with the result that the two engage at all points along which pressure is applied by the stylus. To this extent the device illustrated in FIGURES 6, 7, and 8 is identical to the device illustrated in FIGURES 1 through 5, inclusive.

The members 22 and 23 are secured in a hinged member indicated generally at 24. The member 24 consists of a lower base member 26 which is hingedly connected at 27 to a spacer element 2? which in turn is secured to the upper surface of the member 20. The purpose of the spacer element 28 is merely to place the hinged base 26 in the same plane as the upper surface of the member 21. The members 22 and 23 are secured to the member 26 by an upper clamping bar 29 which engages the member 23 as indicated in FIGURE 8. Handles 31 extend upwardly from the ends of the member 24. When the handles 31 are urged rearwardly,

as indicated in FIGURE 7, the member 26 hinges about 27 as indicated in FIGURE 7, with the result that the sheets 23 and 22 are separated from the member 21. The movement of the members 22 and 23 is as indicated in FIGURE 7; that is, it is primarily longitudinal with respect to the member 21. This action serves to separate the members 21 and 22 at all points at which they had previously been caused to engage by the action of the stylus and the entire message is removed and the entire surface of the pad is cleared.

A spring 32 is mounted on the lower side of the member 20. A lever 33, whose lower end engages the lower end of the spring 32 extends upwardly through a hole 34 in the base 20 and through aligned holes in the members 26, 22, 23, and 29, respectively, and is turned at 36 to engage the upper surface of the member 29 as indicated in FIGURE 8. When the handles 31 are actuated rearwardly, as indicated in FIGURE 7, the spring 32 is compressed. When the handles 31 are released, the action of the spring 32 causes the member 24 and the handles 31 to return in the position illustrated generally in FIGURE 6. The members 22 and 23 will be returned, longitudinally, from the position illustrated in FIGURE 7 to that indicated in FIGURE 6 with the result that the pad is again ready for use.

It will be apparent from this modification that the member 21 need not extend the length of the base 20.

It is also apparent that the clearing bar, in order to operate effectively need not necessarily be positioned 4 between the member 21 and the tissue sheet 22. In other respects, however, the modifications are substantially identical and their mode of operation is substantially the same.

In the modification illustrated in FIGURES 9 and 10 I have provided a base 40 which is provided with a member 41 which has a Waxed or paraflin coating. A pliable tissue sheet 42 and a transparent glossy member 43 are adapted to lie above and upon the member 41. The action of the members 41, 42, and 43 is similar to that which has previously been described in connection with members 11, 12, 13, and 21, 22, and 23.

The members 42 and 43 are connected to a flexible member 44 in any suitable way, as, for example, by cementing the member 42 to the lower side of the member 44 and the member 43 to the upper surface of the member 44. The member 44, in turn, is suitably secured to a hinged member 46 which is hingedly connected at 47 to the base 40. A lever 43 which is secured to the member 46 extends through an orifice 49 and engages a spring 51.

A handle 52 extends upwardly from the member 46. When the handle 52 is urged rearwardly or to the right as viewed in FIGURE 10, the member 46 is swung about the hinge 47 against the pressure of spring 51. The members 42 and 43 will be moved generally longitudinally with respect to the member 41 with the result that the entire message on the pad will be cleared.

I claim:

1. In a device of the character described, a memorandum pad comprising a rigid base, a sheet member immediately overlying said rigid base and having a waxed surface, a soft tissue sheet immediately overlying said waxed surface and a glossy transparent sheet overlying said soft tissue sheet and means for clearing said pad by moving said tissue sheet primarily longitudinally with respect to said waxed surface comprising means gripping said tissue sheet to the exclusion of said waxed sheet member, the last said means being secured to said base for hinge movements about an axis disposed substantially parallel to one edge of said tissue sheet whereby movement of the last said means about said axis moves said tissue sheet primarily across said waxed sheet member.

2. A device as in claim 1 in which the last said means for imparting said movements is provided with handle means.

3. A device as in claim 1 in which the last said means is normally spring urged into inoperative position thereby returning the sheets from their longitudinal displacement.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,631,192 Dunlap June 7, 1927 1,822,200 Carroll Sept. 8, 1931 FOREIGN PATENTS 380,484 Germany Dec. 15, 1923 681,989 Great Britain Nov. 5, 1952 

1. IN A DEVICE OF THE CHARACTER DESCRIBED, A MEMORANDUM PAD COMPRISING A RIGID BASE, A SHEET MEMBER IMMEDIATELY OVERLYING SAID RIGID BASE AND HAVING A WAXED SURFACE, A SOFT TISSUE SHEET IMMEDIATELY OVERLYING SAID WAXED SURFACE AND A GLOSSY TRANSPARENT SHEET OVERLYING SAID SOFT TISSUE SHEET AND MEANS FOR CLEARING SAID PAD BY MOVING SAID TISSUE SHEET PRIMARILY LONGITUDINALLY WITH RESPECT TO SAID WAXED SURFACE COMPRISING MEANS GRIPPING SAID TISSUE SHEET TO THE EXCLUSION OF SAID WAXED SHEET MEMBER,THE LAST SAID MEANS BEING SECURED TO SAID BASE FOR HINGE MOVEMENTS ABOUT AN AXIS DISPOSED SUBSTANTIALLY PARALLEL TO ONE EDGE OF SAID TISSUE SHEET WHEREBY MOVEMENT OF THE LAST SAID MEANS ABOUT SAID AXIS MOVES SAID TISSUE SHEET PRIMARILY ACROSS SAID WAXED SHEET MEMBER. 